community in New Mexico
Honey bee forage in Encinal, New Mexico
Estimated forage here is better than about 58% of sites in New Mexico. Against other New Mexico sites it stands out most in fall (84th percentile) and lowest in spring (44th). Nearest mapped water: open water, less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Encinal?
- First forage: Feb 16 (weedy mustards, dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Oct 15, peaking early Aug (weedy mustards, yellow starthistle, native wildflowers)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Encinal, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Apr 27.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): weedy mustards, native wildflowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): yellow starthistle, spotted and diffuse knapweed, green/yellow rabbitbrush, rubber rabbitbrush; light amber
- Fall honey (September to November): green/yellow rabbitbrush, rubber rabbitbrush, yellow starthistle, asters; amber
- Whole season (March to November): weedy mustards, yellow starthistle, green/yellow rabbitbrush, native wildflowers; light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Encinal
Mostly: Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland; Colorado Plateau Pinyon-Juniper Woodland; Inter-Mountain Basins Semi-Desert Shrub-Steppe.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.02 mi E; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi S.
How Encinal ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 19th | 35th | 37th | 82nd |
| New Mexico | 58th | 44th | 76th | 84th |
| Arizona/New Mexico Mountains | 78th | 49th | 85th | 97th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Encinal: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Cubero 4 mi · Paraje 5 mi · Paguate 5 mi · Bibo 5 mi · Laguna 6 mi · Seama 6 mi
All towns in New Mexico · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Encinal (35.1112, -107.4651); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.